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Spotlight on St. Louis Area Neighborhood Activities - Updated February 15, 2014

A volunteer from Society of St. Vincent de Paul picked up a meal to go from Hardee's, after participating with 600 volunteers for the 14th Annual Hardee's Rise 'N Shine for Heat, annual fundraiser benefitting Heat-Up St. Louis, Inc. Photo courtesy of William Sawalich

Heat-Up St. Louis Hits A Record High of $165,000 To DateST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), February 12, 2014- The 14th Annual Hardee's Rise 'N Shine for Heat, annual fundraiser benefitting Heat-Up St. Louis, Inc., the regional not-for-profit charity helping seniors and disabled with their heating bills in Missouri and Illinois has raised a record-breaking $165,000.00 (to date) - a 32% increase over last year's efforts of $125,000.00, despite the gloomy weather.

The money raised, so far was through the duel-efforts of the sale of Hardee's made-from-scratch, Sausage 'N Egg biscuit sandwiches, and tips given to 600 volunteers serving as "celebrity greeters" through more than 60 participating Hardee's restaurants in the greater metropolitan area of Missouri and Illinois.

"Despite the threatening weather, Valentine's Day was very special as we increased our volunteer efforts, and so far our canister collections and the sale of Hardee's Sausage 'N Egg Biscuits," said Melanie DiLeo, Board Chairwoman. "We're indebted to the 600 volunteers and the generosity of the public who came out to Hardee's to support their least fortunate neighbors." DiLeo encourages the public to continue to give as she insists the need is far greater than what was collected today. The St. Louis Rams Football Club, NFL, AmerenMissouri, and Home State Health also made donations to the Rise and Shine campaign.

Hardee's is continuing its canister collection through the weekend, and this year the regional charity is promoting for the next week, a virtual canister collection on its secured website of www.heatupstlouIs.org

These funds will remain in the areas collected to help qualify needy people. In addition, the City of St. Louis has awarded a $155,000 utility assistance contract through the Affordable Housing Commission in partnership with Heat-Up St, Louis and the City's Department of Health. HUSTL will administer the distribution and qualification of city residents over the next several months. Neither Rise 'N Shine (regional funds) or AHC (City) funds totally $320,000 will be used for administration expenses, 100% of these funds are targeted throughout the St. Louis region, and the City of St. Louis respectively for the qualified seniors, disabled and needy households.

In addition tax-deductible donations can be sent Heat-Up St. Louis, Inc., c/o UMB Bank, P.O. Box 868, and St. Louis, MO 63188.

"Being without a heating source has become a regional health and dangerous safety issue," said Reverend Earl E. Nance, Jr., board chair emeritus. "The media pounded away, the volunteers begged away, the public gave-a-way, and Hardee's baked away, so we're indebted for everyone's generosity."

Local artist Henryk Ptasiewicz painted the 'cake' installed on Fourth Street in front of the historic Old Courthouse near the statue of Dred and Harriet Scott, as part of the "Cakeway to the West" project celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of St. Louis.

stl250 to Install 250 Cakes for the "Cakeway to the West"ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), February 12, 2014- Over the past few weeks, local artists have been hard at work creating one of the largest public art exhibitions in the country.

Volunteers with stl250 are working this week to install the 250 cakes, as one of its signature events, Cakeway to the West.

Several artists worked at the stl250 Cake Studio, located at 6th and Locust Street in downtown St. Louis, adding their creative touches to "cakes", each standing 55 inches tall and 33 wide.

"I think it's a great project for St. Louis and will bring a lot of attention to the city as a whole. People will support the city," stated artist Mark Swain, who has painted cakes for locations including: Christ Church Cathedral, Cahokia Moiunds, Loretto Theater, National Blues Museum, Lone Elk Park, Tower Grove Park, the INterfaith Partnership and the Feasting Fox.

Ornamental birthday cakes will be placed at 250 regional historical locations. Complemented with a technology twist, each cake will be interactive utilizing smart phones and the stl250 app also launching on birthday weekend, February 14 - 15. The app will help people find the cakes, learn more about each location, and gain points toward a sweepstakes drawing.

Local artists have been working at the stl Cake Shop, decorating 250 "cakes", each standing 55 inches tall and 33 wide, which will be placed at key locations around the St. Louis region, as part of the year long 250th birthday celebration.